02 September 2016 – Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, affirmed the Philippine Government’s steadfast commitment to the promotion, protection and realization of human rights, the rule of law, and the observance of due process in the country’s campaign against illegal drugs during her meeting with Dr. Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions on August 30.

Ambassador Rebong explained that the campaign is central to the agenda of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to restore peace and order in the country and protect the communities, especially the Philippines’ young population, from the scourge of drugs and other related crimes. 

She emphasized that the campaign is being waged with the full support of the Filipino public and consistent with the Philippines’ commitment to human rights.

“Being a state party to eight out of nine core international human rights conventions, the country’s utmost respect on human rights is resolute and uncompromising,” noted Ambassador Rebong. “The Philippines has been a partner of the UN in its efforts to promote human rights”, she added.

She also pointed out that President Duterte has encouraged NGOs and CSOs to report any killings which are not in accordance with his pronouncements for respect of human rights, rule of law, and due process in the conduct of the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Ambassador Rebong cited data that the campaign has resulted in the voluntary surrender of about 600,000 illegal drug users and a year-on-year drop of 5,222 incidences of crime, particularly crimes against persons and property in July and August. She said that the challenge of addressing illegal drugs in nearly a third of Philippine barangays remains huge.

She also cited reports from the Philippine National Police that only 756 of 1,196 reported killings resulted from legitimate police operations.  The remainder were carried out outside police operations and are being investigated as criminal activities.  She pointed out that members of the Armed Forces and the police are also being killed. 

Ambassador Rebong expressed the Philippine Government’s disappointment on the issuance of the joint press release by the Special Rapporteurs, which had the effect of denying the Philippines an opportunity to respond to the letter appeal and to present the situation.

The Ambassador pointed out that the premature issuance of the press release was inconsistent with the processes of dialogue and engagement under which the UN Special Rapporteurs are mandated to “establish a strong, constructive, and cooperative relationship with States”.

The meeting was held on the request of Ms. Callamard, who was joined by Mr. Jon Izagirre Garcia, Associate Human Rights Officer-UN OHCHR Special Procedures Branch, and Ms. Dolores Infante Cañibano, Human Rights Specialist-UN OHCHR Mechanism Division of the Human Rights Council. END